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If you’re between 4 and 18, you’re invited to express your experiences, encounters and feelings about nature in the diverse ecosystems of California for the ENC’s 7th Annual Youth Art Showcase. This is your chance to be “uniquely you” through your imagination and whatever images you choose. Any art medium except film is accepted (photography is welcomed). California has a diversity of ecosystems — forests, woodlands, Costal Sage Scrub, Chaparral, wetlands, intertidal, desert… with an endless variety of native plants and animals. There’s so much to choose from. And we’re sure you’ve seen, experienced and explored some of them. Show us what you’ve seen in a way that’s uniquely you and enter the contest. Have you gone boogie-boarding, sailing, surfing, kayaking, paddling or just splashing through…

Tom is retired from a career as a business manager in the foam plastics industry. He married his college sweetheart and they live happily in HB enjoying painting, ceramics, golf, media and family; however, not necessarily in that order. Tom has been a potter for over 40 years since his first year college elective “Ceramics 101”. He utilizes local ceramic studios where he works in both low and high fire clays. His art is in creating graceful and harmonious forms that extend beyond their utilitarian functions for display in the home and workplace. Until recently his work was only enjoyed personally and as recreation from his business career. Now retired, he has been developing skill in crafting utilitarian and stylish ceramics including a variety of…

Elaine Hughes was born in Inglewood, California in 1956 and since then has continued to live in Southern California. She slowly began an art career by painting children’s clothing, furniture and murals. As a hobby, she began painting on canvas in 1993 with her subjects being her three young daughters. Several years later she changed from painting with brushes to painting exclusively with a palette knife which was when she began selling her work in the Bluebird Gallery in Laguna Beach, CA. She was represented by the gallery from 1996 until their closing in 2016. Elaine has also shown her work in Li-Ying Gallery in Laguna Beach, CA and Highland’s Art Gallery in Chester, New Jersey. Besides art galleries, Elaine has participated in many art…

Kristine Rios is a Landscape Architect with a passion for making semi-precious gemstone jewelry. By nature she is attentive to details, value good craftsmanship and lasting materials. She thoroughly enjoys the jewelry design and production process, and values doing it well. Her design aesthetic is minimal in nature, with delicate, unique details. This amounts to a style that is easy to coordinate and accessible to many people… Inspired Everyday Jewelry. In recent years Kristine has expanded into fine silver jewelry, which is hand-sculpted from a precious metal clay. The clay is an environmentally-friendly green product, which uses reclaimed silver from recycled film stock and negatives. When the clay is fired, it results in 99.9% PURE silver, which holds more value than sterling silver. This medium has opened up endless possibilities…

A little over 15 years ago, Cat MacGregor began exploring and hiking in the local and state parks. She fell in love with the quiet surroundings out on a trail, the focus involved to safely navigate new trails, and disconnecting from the world. A few years later on a trip to England armed with a 3 megapixel camera she fell in love with photographing her adventures. When she came home the two, hiking and photography, merged. Finding new ways to look at the same beautiful vistas, documenting the adventures on the trail, and the views at lunch became her outlet. Away from the city, she captures the moody bayous, lonely trees, cheeky squirrels, and found tree gnomes and new friends in her Imaginarium series. She…

“Since I can remember I have always loved art, nature, animals. I’m self taught, I started tiling in 2005. My work has come a long when since I started… from what I tile on, to what I tile with. I found what are called Tiny Tiles, from Morocco, they start at 3mm to 10mm, yes tweezers are used. I also love using Italian Vitreous, Italian Millefiori, Stained Glass and Pewter beads/charms. I like to make useful pieces, pendants, mirrors, frames, coat/towel holders, leash holders, pictures, tables and I’ve even tiled chairs…” – Carol Kumerow, Mosaic Artist “My name is Amy and I’m the Giggling Ninja! I’m an Orange County native, beach lover, run on sentence, maverick chef, karate instructor with a love of making the traditional…

Derek Fretheim’s jewelry is inspired by his Native Indian heritage and through the healing and energy properties contained within gemstones. “All of my designs are purposeful. I combine the energy properties of the gemstones and use of color with traditional Native patterns as inspiration,” said Derek, “There is deep thought and meaning in every piece.In other words, they’re not just thrown together and mass produced.” Gemstones, seed beads and cut crystal materials are all carefully selected and each and every piece has meaning and life. When Derek’s jewelry is worn it heals your sole, provides positive energy and/or deflects negative energy you may receive from others. There is spirit inside each piece. Derek believes in giving back to society and, more specifically retaining Native artwork and customs. “We have…

Christine Mazanec is a mom, artist, teacher and creative. She has been living in the South Bay for over 30 years. Christine is the founder of C.R.O.W. Cenazam Recycled Original Works, specializing in transforming, remaking and upcycling unwanted materials and trash into artistic treasures. Christine loves the ocean and is passionate about promoting a sustainable lifestyle. She gives new life to materials from thrift shops, roadsides, city dumps, households as well as industry finds. “When you come to my booth you will find that the only new item is the canopy cover,” jokes Christine. Christine makes garments, art, and household accessories re-newed and re-purposed to re-be for friends, neighbors and the global community at large. Christine’s wonderful treasures will be available at the ENC Artisans Marketplace…

by Alexandria Raeann Choy, ENC Communications Intern Art has always been an important part of Karren Hiskey’s life. Raised in a creative family, she was exposed to all types of artistic mediums, from paints to quilts to textiles and more. Now, as an artist herself, she enjoys working with clay. “I love beginning with a slab of clay and exploring the possibilities of surface design with color and texture,” said Karren. “I’ve developed a unique process of mono printing with underglazes and layers of image transfer that play a big role in my work.” Some of the artists that influence her work include Barbara Hepworth, Henry Matisse, Sonia Delaunay, and Charlie Harper. However, Karren draws her biggest inspiration from nature. She describes is as a “calming…

California officials have opened the spill gates at Folsom Lake, located in Northern California and let precious water spill into the American River as a precaution against–flooding! A series of El Niño-influenced storms in the month of March have made a significant dent on California’s severe drought. But don’t get too overly excited about watering your lawns on a daily basis just yet. State officials say it is still far too early to declare the drought over, especially given that the rains seem to have focused on Northern California, while Southern California has seen comparatively little rain. Although the state’s reservoir and snowpack levels are on the rise, both key sources of water for the state, officials still urge the public to continue being drought-conscious…

California is currently facing one of the most severe droughts on record. According to research California is probably headed into a deeper drought this summer, making it harder to escape in the future. One of the Environmental Nature Center’s core values is to maintain our commitment to the environment and the work necessary to convey our education message. To raise awareness about the California drought we are excited to present our “Drought” Youth Art Exhibit. With many thanks to our sponsors, Mesa Water District and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, on May 15, 2016 young people ages 4-18 will have the opportunity to exhibit their “Drought” art at the Environmental Nature Center’s Spring Faire from 10am to 3pm. ENC is looking for art…

Calling all young artists! The Environmental Nature Center is accepting works of art for the 4th Annual Youth Art Exhibit at the Spring Faire on May 3rd. This gives kids a chance to spread their own environmental message through their artistic talents. This year’s theme is “Trashy Yet Classy,” which presents an opportunity for kids to utilize the waste generated by our society and turn it into something environmentally meaningful. “This show gives youth an opportunity to look at consumables and how they affect our environment,” says Outreach Coordinator Sama Wareh. “An added bonus is that they also have an opportunity to educate and influence others through their art.” Kids can either paint on trash or create their art from trash. Youth ages 4-18 can…